Well tester



C. L. JETT WELL TESTER Jan. 6, 1931.

Filed Feb. 3, 1928 fore the Well casing is se Another purpose of thetester is to detertaken by thetester. mine the natural pressure of theoil, gas and water or other fluids, or of any one thereof, in the rathole or core hole before Well casing is set. n

Another purpose of the tester is to determine thebest part of the groundformation inthe Well, above the productive formation, in'or on which toseat and rest the Well casing, before the Well casing is set f Inoperation, the prospector drills a hol in the ground at ka place whichhe believes productive formation may be found. ing, of Which: Thisinitial hole is of sufficient size to permit the set-ting of a surfacecasing, to prevent the walls of the Well from caving in at the groundsurface, and to eliminate the entrance of surface water sands fromI the-Well. Drilling is then resumed at the bottom of the hole initial hole,through the surface casing.

In the drilling of4 the Well, a small hole, the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;known to the trade as a rat hole, is drilled and cored down through theunderlying formations, substantially concentric i with the initial hole,to a depth of or 60 feet in search of productive formations.

If no productive formation is encountered in this E30-or 60 feet of ratholea bit just small enough to pass through surface casing is lowered inthe hole and the previously formed rat hole is then-roamed to substan-UNITED STA This invention relates to tools of the type generally knownas Well-testers, which are employed in the oil fields and similar placeshole. where Wells are to be drilled and operated.

5 The purpose of the tester is to determine Whether the ground formationwhich underlies the upper layers of shale, gumbo and cap rock, carries,contains or is capable of pro- Vhen a formation though to be productiveis encountered, the tester forming the subject of my invention is thenlowered in the full size hole, being positioned on the Patented Jan. 6,1931 'WELL TESTER Application led Tebruary 3, 1828.` Serial No. 251,680.

pensive to manufacture.

TES 'PATENT' oFFIcE CLAUDE L. JETT, OF EL DORADO, ARKANSAS lower end Iofa drill stem or tubing, and havlng a portion which projects into the ratA packer is provided on the tester which is adapted to seal the rat holerelative to the full size hole to eliminate the passage of n1ud, Wateror other undesirable foreign matl ter from the rat hole, from which thenatducing profitable liquid or gaseous fluids, beural pressure is to betested and the sample t. of fluid contained in the formation is to beThe principal object of theinvention is to produce a tester which willbe simplel of construction, eiiicient inl operation, and inex- 'Anotherobject of the invention is to pro-k vi/de an improved form of packerWhich will be more efficient in operation than those ernployed at thepresent time.

The details of construction of mv invention Will be fully disclosedhereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying draW- Fig. l is asectional View taken through a full size hole and the rat hole alignedherewith, showing my improved tester in sectional elevation, with thepacker in posi- 'tion to be seated at the mouth of the rat Fig. 2 -is asectional plan view taken' on l Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectionalelevation of the packer in its inactive' position;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showingr the packer in its activepmouthof the rat hole;

Figs. 5and 6 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4, of a modified form ofpacker.

` InFig. 1, the full size hole.-A is illustrated as Apassing intoastratum of c'ap rock Z. The rat hole B is shown as passing tially thefull size ofthe initial hole, to elimthrough the cap 'rock vZ andthe-underlying Y innate binding and sticking of adrill pipe formation S.Y- subsequently passed down through the initial Rat holing and coringare vthen osition sealing the The tester comprises a piston 1 adapted tobe secured to the lower end of the usualtype of tubular drill'stem 2.The piston 1 is hollow and isprovided\with a head 3 and a transversepartition wall 4, which divides the interior of the piston into an upperchamber 5 and a lower chamber 6.

Threaded iiito-the partition 4 and carried thereby is an enlongatedtubular piston plunger 7 which passes through an aperture formed in thepiston head 3. On the lower end of the plunger 7 is a cap or spud nut 8which closes the lower end of said tubular plunger and provides ashoulder 9 for supporting a plunger jacket 1() which eiicircles saidtubular plunger 7 and extends upward from the cap nut 8 to a point belowthe head 3 of the piston l1.

The upper end of the plunger jacket 10 is threaded into an openingformed in the head 11 of a hollow cylinder, the circulai` y wall 12 ofWhich fits snugly around the outside .of the piston 1, which is adaptedto move longitudinally in the piston cushioning chamber 13 of saidcylinder. Y

A key 14 prevents relative circular movement between the piston 1 andcylinder 12.

` The key 14 is carried by thepiston 1, and is adapted to'slide in agroove 15 formed in the cylinder wall 12. Y

In the piston head 3 are formed ports or passages16 and 17 which providecommunication between the lower chamber 6 of the piston 1 'and thecushioning chamber 13 of the cylinder 12. The port 16 is unrestrictedvbut passage throughA the port 17 is adapted.

to be .limited to one direction i. e. from the chamber 6 in the pistonto the cushioning chamber 13 of the cylinder 12, by a spring 4controlledcheck valve 18, which prevents a return through the port 17 to thechamber 6.

In the partition 4 of the piston 1 is formed an opening 1 9 whichprovides communication between the. chambers 5 and 6 ofthe piston 1,said opening 19 being normally closed by a threaded plug 20.,

The opening 19 is provided for the purpose of permitting any suitablecushioning fluid to be run into the chamber 6, from which it ywill flowthrough thev ports 16 and 17 into tle cushioning chamber 13 ofA thecylinder The pistonplunger 7 is provided with series of openings 21which are adapted to be broughtv intoregistry with va series of openings22-formed in the plunger jacket 10, when the jacket 10 is moved,longitudinally on and wit-h'respect-to the plunger 7 thereby providingdirect communication between the rat hole B and the interior of thetubular piston plunger 7. The key 14 which prevents relative rotationbetween the piston 1 and cylinder 12 'consequently prevents a similarrelative rotary motion between the piston ment of the holes 2l and 22 inthe plunger I 7 and jacket 10 is at all times assured.

Surrounding the jacket ,10 immediately 4adj acent the under side of thecylinder head 11 is the packer 25, which comprises a ta# pered plug 26of hard nonfyielding fabric f plug 26 is a soft extremely pliable gumsleeve 29. A nut 30 is threaded on the jacket 10 below the plug 26, andis 'adapted to maintain the said plug in contact with the c vhiider head11.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a packer 25a which is collapsible and iscomposed of an outer casing 35 of resilient rubberized fabric. Withinthe packer casing 35 is located a body of soft pliable gum 36. and arigid element 37.

In operation, the tester is lowered into the upper or full size hole Auntil the sides of the packer 25 engage the edges of the mouth of thelower or smaller rat hole B.

As the tubular drill stem 2 is perniittedto f descend the weight thereofcauses the -outer soft sleeve 29 of the packer 25 to assume the formillustrated in Fig. 4, completely sealing the mouth of the small hole Bagainst the passage of mud, etc. from the larger hole g,

piston head 3 to gradually approach the cylinder head 11. When the saidpiston head l3 contacts with the said cylinder head 11, the

openings 22 in the piston plunger jacket 1() are in alignment with theopenings 21 in the plunger 7, which lpermits the flow of fluid. y

at natural pressure contained in the small d hole B, from the hole Binto the interior ot'. Athe tubular piston plunger 7.

It will'here be 'noted that the chamber 6 j lll) piston head 3 maycontact with the cylinder headI 11 to bring the openings 2l and 22formed in the plunger 7 and jacket 10 into alignment with each other.sion of the trapped air acts as a resilient means for maintaining thewalls of the packer 25 iiifirni contact with the mouth of ythe This('oinpressmaller liole B, and the softness of the sleeve 294 of saidpacker permits the. said sleeve to adhere to any and all irregularitiesinthe mouth ofthe hole B, thus forming a perfect sealbetween the holes Aand B.

The elements of the device are permitted to remain in this positionwhile the natural pressure test is being inade lwith pressure gaugeinstalled on drill stem at the surface 'of the ground, and for asuiicient length ot' time to permit a goodly quantity of the fluid andnatural pressure contained in -the hole. B to tlow through the. openings21 and 22 into the interior of the phmger 7 and into the dry drill stem2, and as the drill stem is raised the air compressed in the pistonchamber 6 expands and holds the packer in its sealing position while theplunger 7 is moved relative. to thc jacket 10, breaking the alignmentbetween the openings 21 and 22 -formed in these respective elements,thus trapping the fluid received from the hole B in thc said plunger 7and drill stem 2. Thus it will be seen that the plunger 7 and its jacket`10 act as a sleeve valve to permit the fluid to flow through theopenings -21 and 22 into the plunger 7 and drill stem 2, and to cut offthis communication and trap the said fluid inthe plunger 7 and drillstem 2.

During the upward movement of the piston 1 relative to the cylinder 12the check valve 18 opens to permit a quick flow Aof the cushioningiuidfrom the chamber 6 tothe cushioning chamber 13 so that the packer 25will not be raised from its seat inthe mouth of the hole B, by a vacuumcreated in the chamber 13 by the upward movement of the piston 1therein.

The upward movement of the tester is then continued to the surface ofthe ground where the sample of rfluid contained in the drill stem 2 andplunger 7 is removed and its nature determined.

The packer 25a illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is of a more pliable naturethan the packer 25 and, in addition to sealing the mouth of the smallhole B, is expanded to such an extent that it rests on the bottom of,and engages the circular wall of the full size hole A therebymaintaining a seal between the holes A and B in event of the breakingdown of the wall of the small hole B at the mouth thereof, and by meansof hydrostatic u pressure bearing down on said packer 25a.

I claim:

1. The combination in a well tester adapted to be lowered into a well ofa packing element adapted to engage the wall of a well and therebyisolate one section of the well from the other portion thereof` a hollowelement extending into sai-d isolated section and adapted to receive asample of fluid at natura-l pressure tl'ierefrom. a sleeve valve forcontrolling the How of tluid to the interior of said hollow element,connected to said packing clement and adapted tobe operated by acontinued lowering of the tester occuring 4after said packing' elementhas engaged the wall of said well,.n1eans for moving said packingelement into sealing engagement with said well wall, means forcushioning the operation of said moving means rela'- tive to the saidpacking element comprising a cylinder carried by said packing elementand a hollow piston carried by said moving means operable in saidcylinder, a cushioning fluid in said cylinder between the head thereofand the head of said piston, said piston head being provided with a.restricted opening permitting the gradual passage of said cushioningfluid into the interior ot' said hollow piston.

2. The combination in a well tester ada-pted to be lowered into a wellof a packing element adapted to engage the wall of a well and therebyisolate one section of the well from the other portion thereof, a hollowcicment extending into said isolated section and adapted to receive asample of iuid at natural pressure therefrom. a sleeve valve forcontrolling the flow of fluid at said natural pres sure tothe interiorof said hollow element, connected to said packing element, and adaptedto be operated by a continued lowering of the tester after said packingelement has engaged the wall of said'well, means forl moving saidpacking element into sealing engagement with said well wall, means forcushioning the operation ot' said moving means rela-tive to the saidpacking element comprising a cylinder carried by said pa'cking elementand a hollow pisto-n carried by Said moving means operable in saidcylinder, a cushioning fluid in said cylinder between the head thereofand the head of said piston, said piston head being provided with arestricted opening permitting the gradual pas- Sage of said cushioningfluid into the interior of said hollow piston, and a check valve in saidpiston head adapted to permit the said Huid to bc exhausted quickly fromthe interior of said piston into said cylinder.

3. The combination in a well tester of apiston adapted to be secured toa drill stem of ordinary construction and adapted to be lowered into awell by said drill stem, a cylinder surrounding said piston and adaptedfor longitudinal movement relative thereto, a packing element carried bysaid cylinder and adapted to engage a` shoulder formed in the wall ofthe well to be tested whereby said packing element functions to isolatethe portion of the well below the shoulder from the portion thereofabove said shoulder` a tubular plunger connected to said pistonextending through said cylinder and said packing elcment into theisolated section of the well and provided with an opening adapted toaii'ord communication between the interior of said plunger and the lsaidisolated section of the well, a jacket surrounding said tubular plungersecured to said packing element and said cylinder and provided with anopening adapted to register with that of the tubular plunger when saidpacking elementengages said shoulder and thereby causes a. relativemovement of said cylinder and said jacket longitudinally with respect tosaid piston and said plunger; respectively, as the drill Astem islowered into the well.

4. The combination in a well tester of a Aing through said cylinder'andsaid packing element into the isolated section of the well and providedwith an opening adapted to afford communication between the interior ofsaid plunger and the said isolated section of the well, a jacketsurrounding said tubular plunger secured to said packing element andsaid packing element functions to isolate the.

said cylinder and provided with an opening adapted to register with thatof the tubular plunger when said packing element engages said shoulderand thereby causes a relative movement of said cylinder and said ljacketlongitudinally with respect to said piston and said plungerrespectively, as the drill stem is lowered into the well, and a fluid insaid cylinder between the head thereof and the head of said piston forcushioning the action of the piston within the cylinder.

5. The combination in a well` testerof a piston adapted to be secured toa drill stem of ordinary construction and adapted to be lowered into awell by said drill stem, a cylinder surrounding said piston and adaptedfor longitudinal movement relative thereto, a packing element carried bysaid cylinder. and adapted to engage a shoulder formed in the wall ofthe well to be tested whereby portion of the well below the shoulderfrom the portion thereof above said shoulder, a tubular plungerconnected to said piston eX- tending through said cylinder and saidpacking element into the isolated section of the well and provided withan opening adapted tov afford communication between the inte-v rior ofsaid plunger andthe said isolatel section of the well, a jacketsurrounding said tu-' bular plunger secured to said packing element andsaid cylinder and provided with an opening adapted to register with thatof the tubular plunger when said packing element engages said shoulderand thereby causes a relative movement of said cylinder and said jacketlongitudinally with respect to said piston and said plungerrespectively, as the drill stem is lowered into the well. and a fluid insaid cylinder between the head thereof and the head of said piston forcushioning the ac tion of the piston within the cylinder, said pistonhead beingprovided with a restricted 4passa-ge to permit said cushioningfluid to gradually escape into a ca-vity formed in said piston.

6. The combination in a well tester ofv a l ,packing element carried bysaid cylinder and adapted to engage a shoulder formed in the wall of thewell to be tested whereby said packing element functions to isolate theportion of the Well below the shoulder from theportion thereof abovesaid shoulder, a tubular plunger connected to said piston extendingthrough said cylinder and said'packing element into the isolated sectionof the well and provided with an opening adapted to afford communicationbetween the interior of said plunger and the said isolated section ofthe well, a jacket surrounding said tubular plunger secured to saidpacking element and said cylinder and provided with an opening adaptedto register with that of the tubular plunger when said packing elementengages said shoulder and thereby causes a relative movement of saidcylinder and said jacket longitudinally with respect to said piston andsaid plunger respectively, asthe drill stem is lowered into the well, afluid in said cylinderbetween the head thereof and the head of saidpiston for cushioning the action of the piston within the cylinder, saidpiston head being provided with a restricted passage to permit saidcushioning fluid to gradually escape into a cavity formed in said pistonwhereby the air trapped in said piston cavity is compressed therein, anda check valve in said piston head adapted to permitI the said cushioningfluid to be exhausted quickly from said piston cavity into saidcylinder, under the influence of the compressed air in said cavitywhereby the said packing element is held in its sealing engagement withsaid'well shoulder until after the fluid openings, in said tubularplunger are closed by said jacket.

7. The combination in a well tester of a piston adapted to be secured toa drill stem of ordinary construction and adapted te be lowered into awell by said drill stem, a cylinder surrounding said piston and adaptedfor longitudinal movement relative thereto, a packof said plunger andthe said isolated section of the Well, a jacket surrounding said tubularplunger secured to said packing element and said cylinder and providedwith an opening adapted to register With that of the tubular plungerwhen said packing element engages said shoulder and thereby causes arelative movement of said cylinder and said jacket longitudinally Withrespect to said piston and said plunger respectively, as the 'drill stemis lowered into the Well, a fluid in said cylinder between the headthereof and the head of said piston for cushioning the action of thepiston Within the cylinder, said piston head being provided With arestricted passage to permit said cushioning fluid'to gradually escapeinto a cavity formed in said piston whereby the air trapped in saidpiston cavity iscompressed therein, a check valve in said piston headadapted to permit the said cushioning Huid to be exhausted quickly fromsaid piston cavity into said cylinder, under the inuence of thecompressed air in said cavity whereby the said packing element is heldin its sealing engagement with said well shoulder until after the fluidopenings in said tubular plunger are closed by said jacket, and meansfor limiting the movement of said tubular plunger relative to saidjacket,

whereby the said packing element is released from its Well sealingposition when the drill stem is raised.

CLAUDE L. JETT.

